By Austin Ogwuda
ASABA — GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, said his administration was working towards diversifying the state’s economy by building a Delta State beyond oil.

To actualise this, the state government organised a green economy roundtable for small and medium scale enterprises, SME’s, in partnership with the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Paris.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor reiterated the importance of a low carbon economy and its benefit to the environment and SMEs, pointing out that his government “has intensified its campaign to build a ‘Delta State beyond oil’ through the state’s green economy concept focusing on low carbon initiative that is climate resilient.

“Delta State is  going green and will adopt strategies to actualise this vision as doing so will ensure that the state can build new businesses through the SMEs, which will enhance the economic development of the state and realise the market opportunities in Africa and Nigeria,” he said.

“With global carbon goods and services expenditure, which stood at three trillion pounds in 2007/2008 and expected to grow to four and half trillion pounds by 2015 and with the private sector expected to contribute about 80% of this, Africa and indeed Nigeria cannot afford not to get involved towards attracting some of these investments into the economy”, he added.

Over 40 small business owners and over 100 State government officials and members of the public that the state government graced the occasion.